Kennard-Pyle Company Centennial Celebration photographs
Creation: 1946Abstract
Kennard-Pyle Company was a department store known for its women's clothing, and in the late-twentieth century it was one of Delaware's oldest independent clothing retailer. The collection consists of photographs relating to the Kennard's Department Store centennial celebration (1846-1946).
Dates
- Creation: 1946
Creator
- Kennard-Pyle Company (Wilmington, Del.) (Organization)
Extent
13 item(s)
General Physical Description
13 photographic prints : b&w ; 8 x 10 in.
Historical Note
Kennard-Pyle Company was a department store known for its women's clothing, and in the late-twentieth century it was one of Delaware's oldest independent clothing retailer.
Founded as Kennard & Company in 1846 by brothers William M. Kennard (1834-1914) and John Kennard (1828-1864) in Wilmington, Delaware, the firm sold dry goods, clothing, and accessories. Kennard & Company evolved into a department store. In 1918, it was purchased by the newly formed Kennard-Pyle Company headed by John R. Lambson (1864-1951). Lambson formerly was the manager for Kennard & Company and had worked for the store in various capcities since he was a young boy. Lamson also purchased the Edward W. Pyle & Co. shoe store. The Kennard-Pyle Company was incorporated on March 24, 1922.
Kennard-Pyle Company filed for bankruptcy in 1984, despite the company president's efforts to keep the business going, all stores closed by 1986.
Scope and Content
The collection consists of photographs relating to the Kennard's Department Store centennial celebration (1846-1946). One photograph is of Kennard's centennial banquet, showing the head table. The remaining photographs are of window displays for Kennard's centennial, showing mannequins in historic costume (possibly circa 1846) with backdrops illustrating local historic sites in Wilmington, Delaware, such as Old Swedes Church and the First Office of the DuPont Company.
Location
GL Box 1.
Access Restrictions
This collection is open for research.
Language of Materials
English
Additional Description
Separated Materials
Kennard-Pyle Company records (Accession 1044), Manuscripts and Archives Department, Hagley Museum and Library.
Finding Aid & Administrative Information
- Title:
- Kennard-Pyle Company Centennial Celebration photographs
- Date:
- 2014
- Description rules:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description:
- English
- Script of description:
- Latin
Repository Details
Repository Details
Part of the Audiovisual Collections Repository
